Genoa is ready to celebrate the arrival of The Ocean Race, the spectacular round-the-world sailing race that lands in Italy for the first time in history. On Saturday (10 am), the Ocean Live Park, set up on the areas of the new Waterfront di Levante, will officially open. There, where the sea has regained space thanks to the vision of architect Renzo Piano, a village full of activities and experiences between sailing, sport, art, innovation, sustainability, shows, and entertainment will be set up. Admission will be free, from Saturday 24 June to Sunday 2 July, from 10 am to 10 pm.
“Hosting the final stage of The Ocean Race in Genoa is an incredible opportunity for promotion, a chance to bring the name of our city to the world”, underlines Marco Bucci, Mayor of Genoa. “There will be hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts (but not only) who will follow worldwide the Grand Finale of a competition that puts the sea and sustainability at the centre. This is the first significant event in an area of our city that is being renovated thanks to an extraordinary urban regeneration project: an event of international calibre that will have a tremendous direct and indirect return on the city. It will be a great success”.
Official opening next Saturday at 10 am with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, accompanied by the notes of the Marching Band. The public will immediately be able to try out the numerous activities, from workshops and immersive experiences in the Pavilion of Sustainability (where the cancellation of the stamp dedicated to the Grand Finale will also be available) to sports trials in the Genova 2024 area in various disciplines. Space will also be given to “e-sports” in the Jean Nouvel Pavilion with four e-sailing stations, three dedicated to Play Station FIFA 2023, Nintendo (Mario Kart and others), and a simulator to experience the thrill of sports driving. The opening day will also see the launch of Northern Light, the first fully recyclable one-design sailing boat, and the inauguration of the Innovation Village with nine technological solutions aiming at sustainability and inclusiveness, all to be tried out.
“Starting on Saturday”, explained Liguria Region’s President, Giovanni Toti, “in addition to becoming the world’s sailing capital, Genoa will host an array of events and activities in conjunction with the Ocean Live Park. This will allow it to cater to the needs of sailing enthusiasts as well as those who wish to participate in other sports, enjoy concerts and shows, and engage in innovative and sustainable experiences. Genoa will be the beating heart of the whole Liguria region. In addition, it will welcome the thousands of tourists who will attend the Grand Finale, a real happening that illustrates how our Region has developed a tourism industry that is not only tied to the summer and the sea, but also to significant events that are bringing many people to Liguria after the pandemic. Inside the Village, the Region will be present with a pavilion related to its excellence, capable in recent years of expanding the tourism offer and promoting the territory with our industry, research, and innovation”.
It will be possible to immerse oneself in the emotions experienced by the boats as they sail around the world thanks to the Immersive room developed by ETT.
Many activities will be devoted to children and families, from testing the driving simulator at the Automobile Club Genova stand to workshops about the sea and sustainability.
Numerous events will revolve around the stage: the BeatBox Battle European Contest, the Buio Pesto concert, DJ sets, the Talenti al quadrato show, the awarding ceremony of the Regata dei Municipi, the Polene show “Gli Occhi del Mare” (The Eyes of the Sea), the Street Workout, and the theatre show “Un mare senza plastica – L’eco musical” (a sea without plastic – the eco-musical). There will also be a painting competition for all art institutes and the final of the Campionato Mondiale del Pesto (pesto world championship) with the winners of the Alicante, Cape Town, Itajaì, Newport, Aahrus and The Hague stages.
The Genoa Sustainability Pavilion will be showcasing the works produced by some schools thanks to the “Learning Program”, the results of the Centri Servizi Famiglie (family service centres) and the “productions” of the Centri Educazione al Lavoro del Comune di Genova (work education centres of the Genoa city council). Developed under the banner of social and environmental sustainability and circular economy. Two mascots will welcome the little ones: Wisdom, the seagull from The Ocean Race, and Lupo di Mare, a symbol of Genoa, The Grand Finale. The One Blue Voice Immersive Experience will take visitors on a journey under the waves to discover the race that protects the ocean, and it will also be possible to sign the petition in favour of the Oceans.
In the name of sustainability, a mobility system has been launched to encourage public and collective transport – train, bus and taxi – to reach Ocean Live Park with free shuttles from Brignole Station and the Porto Antico (Old Port) every 10/15 minutes.
A large “team” of patrons, institutional partners and sponsors made this event possible: Ministero per lo Sport e i Giovani (Ministry for Sport and Youth), Enit, Ministero del Turismo (Ministry of Tourism), ICE, Marina Militare (Navy), Regione Liguria, Camera di Commercio di Genova (Genoa Chamber of Commerce), Ports of Genova, Confindustria Genova, MSC Foundation, Blue District, CONI, FIV, Ussi. Co-organiser: Porto Antico. Partner: Iren. Sponsors: Free To X, Banca Passadore, Boero YachtCoating, Amico &CO, Rina, Fincantieri, Deloitte. Supporters: Ett, Esselunga, Esaote, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Socrem, Movyon, Telepass, Fastweb, Netafim, Costa Edutainment – Acquario di Genova, Fabbricadigitale, Sanlorenzo Yacht, Ignazio Messina & C., Leonardo, Vernazza Autogru, Tim. Sponsors of the Volunteer Programme: Siat Assicurazioni. Sponsor of the In Port Race: WeBuild. Friends of Genova The Grand Finale: Grimaldi Lines, Ranieri Tonissi, Enel, Sirce, Pirelli, Henoto, ANCE, Wind Tre, Psa Italy, Gruppo Spinelli, Finsea, Genova For Yachting, Edil Due, Mussini Giorgio Portofino, Preti dolciaria, Italmatch Chemicals, Generali Conserve Asdomar, Villa Montallegro, Paul Wurth, Ita Airways, Grimaldi Holding, Resolfin, Fratelli Cosulich, Pesto Sea Group, Alfa Laval, Oceanbird, Fuori Muro, Nuovo Borgo Terminal Container, Duferco, Star Marcevaggi, Gruppo Viziano, SGM Mercato, Cosme, My Sport, Villa Costruzioni, Attilio Carmagnani, AGN Energia, Costa Crociere, Amer Yachts.